To the well-managed go the spoils: MLSE is poised to approve a five-fold increase in its support for Canada Basketball in the form of a three-year agreement valued at about $1.5-million.

“We helped them a few years ago, but that was really just to help them balance their books, it was to help them start in the right direction under Wayne,” says Tom Anselmi, MLSE executive vice-president and chief operating officer. Anselmi and Colangelo have seats on the Canada Basketball board of directors.

“But we really like what we see,” Anselmi added. “All the sports we’re involved in are looking for us to take a leadership role and we feel it’s part of our role as a good corporate citizen and they each have different challenges, but Canada Basketball probably needed our help the most, and that money can have a material impact.”

Both sides stress it’s not a donation, that MLSE gets marketing rights in return. But Parrish is quick to point out that the in-kind help provided by MLSE is at least as valuable as the cash – national teams routinely use the Raptors’ practice facility in the summers. Maurizio Gherardini, the Raptors’ senior vice-president of basketball operations and one of the most respected figures in international basketball, is Canada Basketball’s de facto general manager, working on a pro bono basis.

Nice of MLSE to give Canada Basketball a dime. Would be nice if the gov't gave some substantial cash to them as well. Seems like Hockey takes the front seat all the time

As much as I like bball, not sure I want my tax money to go there. If you're talking about infrastructure for the general public, sure. Young kids playing basketball are, hopefully, young kids not doing all kinds of stupid things.

But the national team should get their funding from other sources, private enterprises like mlse and donations from the fans.